Page 103 of Mask and the Magnolia

Shit.

Shit on a fucking shingle of course he’d choose now to show up.

I quickly get to my feet, adjusting my clothes just as fast before I try to help my men suit up but end up herding them toward the adjoining office door instead.

“Is this why?”

Chewing my lip hard enough to draw blood, I nod and unlock the deadbolt. “He’s been trying to get a hold of me all morning.”

“About what?” Korvin grunts, blocking their exit with his gigantic body. “Why was he blowing you up?”

Calix watches the office door as they wait for my answer, one I have to give because I know they won’t leave without it, and that’ll cause even more trouble than I’m already in.

“His secretary saw Isaak and I at the bar last night.” My heart starts hammering away again as I try shoving him out of the room. “She saw us kissing. We were far away from everyone, it shouldn’t have been an issue but that twatwaffle was there, shesaw, and I have no doubt she went running to my father the second she was able to.”

“Oh boy,” Calix says with a hard swallow. “Bet he didn’t like hearing that.”

I shake my head as he walks past Korvin and gives me a quick kiss. “I don’t have to ask to know he fucking hated it. Me kissing anyone who isn’t that horrible monster his unofficial boyfriend shot out of his nuts over thirty years ago is basically illegal, and I have no idea what’s going to happen when he gets here. Which is why you have to go.”

My alpha nods and cups my cheek, kissing me hard before he looks me in the eye. “Don’t take his shit. You’re too goddamn perfect to let him make you feel anything less than that.”

“I love you,” I say with a smile, kissing him one more time. “I love you both, and I expect you to make sure to pass that on to Des for me since I haven’t seen him yet today.”

“As you wish.” Then Korvin turns to leave but he pauses and faces me.

I start to panic because hereallyneeds to leave, but he gives me a look and I bite my tongue. Then almost swallow it as he runs his finger through the cum on his stomach, collecting every drop before he reaches out and uses it to paint my lips.

“Do not wipe that off,” he growls. “You keep your alpha’s cum on your lips the entire time he’s here as a fuck you to that bastard and his contract.”

Then he winks, tells me he loves me, and pulls the adjoining door closed just as the other opens.

“Magnolia Reynolds,” my father barks as he blows into the room, his energy so heavy and angry it immediately makes my stomach hurt. “You better sit the hell down and shut the hell up because I am here to talk so you better fucking listen.”

I spin away from the door and nearly crash into the desk, rubbing my lips together in hopes that the alpha jizz looks like lip gloss then force myself to acknowledge him. “I can?—“

“You can sit the fuck down.” The Dean points to the chair behind the desk and waits for me to drop into it. “If you speak again without my permission, I can promise you, those will be the last words to leave your disgusting mouth.”

My back goes ramrod straight at the malice in his tone, the sheer iciness in his stare. This is different from any other tongue lashing he’s given me. This has the potential to be dangerous, and I can’t help the way my hands start to shake because of it.

This is so bad.

But then, bad goes to worse when Camden comes storming into the office and slams the door, standing next to my father across from me with violence raging in his eyes.

“The wedding is next month.” The Dean tugs on the sleeves of his suit coat, examining his cufflinks as he reads me the riot act. “There will be no argument, no rescheduling. You will marry Camden at the end of the month, worst case scenario, the beginning of the next if it works better for him.”

I swallow down my sob as my heart beats so hard it feels like it’s going to crack my ribs, the pain both physical and emotional as these terrible men completely ruin my life.

My father brushes some nonexistent lint from his lapel as he continues. “You will be at every scheduled event. Parties, fittings, tastings. Active participation and in the public eye. You’ll meet with caterers and DJs, pick out the goddamn flowers at the florist of your mother’s choosing.”Perfect, let's throw that cunt into the mix.“The announcement will be in the paper, it will be all over Raevenwood. Your mother has also taken it upon herself to make the guest lists, for your bridal shower, the formal for the both of you, as well as the wedding itself.”

I glance from my father to Camden, the piece of burnt garbage staring holes in my head from the time he walked in here. He crosses his arms against his chest, his chest that is heaving as his nostrils flare and that’s when I realize what has him so pissed off.

It’s not Isaak.

I don’t think Camden cares what I do when we aren’t together or expected to be. The Dean is probably angrier about that than the man I’m supposed to marry. I have no doubt it’s why everything has been moved up again.

What has Camden Blackhurst’s head ready to explode is the smell in here.

He can scent my mates.

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